What Is a Sprained Ankle?
Every day, approximately 25,000 people sprain an ankle.
Ankle sprains happen when the foot twists, rolls, or turns beyond its normal motions. A sprain occurs when a ligament is forced to stretch beyond its normal range. A severe sprain causes actual tearing of the elastic fibers. When a sprain occurs, you may fall or be unable to stand on that foot. You may even hear a “pop” before pain and swelling begin.
Symptoms
The amount of pain and swelling you experience will depend on the ligament’s stretching and tearing. Instability occurs when the ligament is completely torn or the ankle joint is completely dislocated.
Swelling and pain typically last 2-3 days. Walking may be difficult, and crutches may be needed.
Diagnosis
When an ankle sprain is suspected, your doctor will perform a physical exam, which may be painful. The doctor may need to move your ankle in various ways to determine which ligament has been damaged. Your doctor may be able to tell you the grade of your ankle sprain based on the amount of swelling, pain, and bruising.
If the ligaments are completely torn, the ankle may become unstable after the initial injury phase passes. If this occurs, the injury may also have damaged the ankle joint surface itself.
Your doctor may order X-rays to make sure you don’t have a broken bone in the ankle or foot. A broken bone can produce similar symptoms of pain and swelling. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan may be ordered if your doctor suspects a very severe injury to the ligaments, injury to the joint surface, a small bone chip, or other problems. The MRI may be delayed to allow any swelling and bruising to resolve.
Treatment
Most ankle sprains need only a period of protection to heal. The healing process takes about four weeks to six weeks. The acronym RICE is a good way to remember what to do:
- Rest your ankle by not walking on it.
- Ice should be immediately applied to keep the swelling down. It can be used for 20-30 minutes, 3-4 times per day.
- Compression dressings, bandages, or ace wraps immobilize and support the injured ankle.
- Elevate your ankle above your heart level as much as possible for the first 48 hours.
Depending upon the grade of injury, your doctor may recommend a cast boot, air splint, and/or crutches. Even a complete ligament tear can heal without surgical repair if immobilized appropriately.
Your doctor may tell you to incorporate motion early in the healing process to prevent stiffness. Even with a chronic tear, your ankle can still be highly functional because overlying tendons help with stability and motion.
Rehabilitation is used to help decrease pain and swelling and prevent chronic ankle problems. Rehabilitation may include:
- Ultrasound
- Electrical stimulation
- Active range of motion exercises or controlled movements of the ankle joint without resistance
- Water exercises if land-based strengthening exercises, such as toe-raising, are too painful.
- Lower extremity exercises and endurance activities as tolerated.
- Proprioception training
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to control pain and inflammation.
Surgical treatment for ankle sprains is rare. Surgery is reserved for injuries that fail to respond to non-surgical treatment and for persistent instability after months of rehabilitation and non-surgical treatment. Surgical options include:
- Arthroscopy – A surgeon looks inside the joint to see if there are any loose fragments of bone or cartilage or if part of the ligament is caught in the joint.
- Reconstruction – A surgeon repairs the torn ligament with stitches or sutures or uses other ligaments and/or tendons found in the foot and around the ankle to repair the damaged ligaments.
Recovery
All ankle sprains recover through three phases:
- Phase 1 – 1 Week: Resting, protecting the ankle, and reducing swelling.
- Phase 2 – 1 to 2 Weeks: Restoring range of motion, strength, and flexibility.
- Phase 3 – Weeks to Months: Gradually returning to activities that do not require turning or twisting the ankle and doing maintenance exercises. Later, followed by activities that require sharp, sudden turns (cutting activities), such as tennis, basketball, or football.
If an ankle sprain is not recognized and treated, chronic problems of pain and instability may result.